AB1695 THE EFFECTS OF TELE-REHABILITATION-BASED STABILIZATION EXERCISES ON BALANCE, GAIT, FUNCTIONALITY, PAIN AND DEPRESSION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC NECK PAIN
Authors: H. Ayan, B. Kara, R. Erbayraktar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Chronic neck pain is associated with balance and gait disturbances [1,2]. The effects of tele rehabilitation- based stabilization training on balance and gait in chronic idiopathic neck pain (CINP) are still unknown. <h3>Objectives</h3> This study aimed to compare the effects of tele rehabilitation-based scapular and core stabilization training on balance, gait, functionality, pain and depression in CINP. <h3>Methods</h3> Forty-one individuals with CINP (36 females, 5 males) were participated in the study. Participants were randomized into two groups as scapular stabilization (SS) group (n=20, 17 females, 3 males, age 20.00 [19.0-21.0] years, visual analogue scale (VAS) score 6.00 [5.0-6.0]) and the core stabilization (CS) group (n=21, 19 females, 2 males, age 20.00 [19.0-21.0] years, VAS score 5.00 [5.0-6.0]). Tele rehabilitation-based exercise sessions were conducted with mutual videoconferencing synchronously in groups of 2-3 participants, 45-60 minutes' duration, once a-week for 8 weeks. Postural stability (PS) and limits of stability (LOS) were measured by a computerized balance platform. Spatiotemporal gait parameters (speed (m/sec), cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), step length (% stride length)) and right and left side pelvic tilt (°), pelvic obliquity (°) and pelvic rotation (°) symmetry (%) were assessed with a wearable sensor device. The gait was assessed during two different walking conditions. Firstly, the participants walked at usual (normal) walking speed on the 10-meter walking path. Secondly, they walked this distance at the maximum speed they could walk safely. Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functionality, VAS for pain intensity and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression were used at baseline and after 8 weeks. Normally distributed variables were presented as mean and SD, non-normally distributed variables were presented as median (interquartile range[IQR]). <h3>Results</h3> After 8 week tele rehabilitation-based training, pain intensity, functionality, depression, PS (overall, anteroposterior), LOS, cadence, speed, and stride length (left) during normal walking, stride length (right) during fast walking, pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation symmetry for both walking condition significantly improved in the both groups (p &lt;0.05). Cadence (120.90 ±9.70 vs. 127.11 ±10.10, p &lt; 0.001) and stride length-left (1.49 ±0.21 vs. 1.51 ± 0.20, p= 0.005) during fast walking, stride length-right (1.32 ± 0.19 vs. 1.38 ± 0.21, p= 0.001) during normal walking and pelvic oblique symmetry during both normal (98.10 [97.65-98.85] vs. 98.60 [97.95-98.85], p=0.002) and fast (97.40 [96.15-98.10] vs. 98.50 [97.90-98.95], p &lt; 0.001) walking improved in the CS group, while no improvement occurred in the SS group (p&gt; 0.05). <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study showed that tele rehabilitation-based stabilization training improved balance, gait, functionality, pain and depression in CINP significantly. Core stability training appears to be more effective than scapular stability training in improving LOS, gait parameters, and pelvic symmetry in this population. <h3>References</h3> [1]Uthaikhup S, Sunkarat S, Khamsaen K, Meeyan K, Treleaven J. 2014. The effects of head movement and walking speed on gait parameters in patients with chronic neck pain. Man Ther. 19(2):137–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2013.09.004 [2]de Zoete RMJ, Osmotherly PG, Rivett DA, Farrell SF, Snodgrass SJ. 2017. Sensorimotor Control in Individuals With Idiopathic Neck Pain and Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 98(6):1257–1271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.09.121 <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.